Guangzhou welcomes World Routes

GUANGZHOU, 10 September 2018: Guangzhou is set to welcome more than 3,000 delegates from across the globe when the world’s premier air service development event returns to China.

The 24th World Route Development Forum will convene 15 to 18 September in Guangzhou, providing a global meeting place for airlines, airports and tourism authorities to plan new flights and increase existing services.

Hosts are Guangdong Airport Authority (GAA) and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, which earlier this year opened its second terminal building.

This major infrastructure development will enable the airport to handle more than 70 million passengers in 2018 and is expected to put Guangzhou in the top 10 of the world’s busiest airports over the coming years.

World Routes 2018 presents an unrivalled platform for route development professionals to discuss, develop and plan network strategy on its return to China. It was held in China in 2009 hosted by Beijing and by Chengdu in 2016.

This year, 21 carriers will attend, all new to the event, as well as nine of the 10 largest carriers in the world, including Delta Air Lines, Emirates, British Airways and Lufthansa.

“China is the world’s second largest aviation market and it is continuing to grow. During 2022, it will displace the USA as the busiest on earth and by 2036 its market will have a colossal 1.5 billion passengers a year,” said Routes brand director. Steven Small.

“Within China, Guangzhou is a powerful driving force of the national economy. It is taking a leading role in China’s national strategy to improve international transport connections, so it is an excellent destination for the world’s aviation industry.”

Founded in 214 BC, Guangzhou is a historic port on the Pearl River near the South China Sea. Known for its perennial blooming plants, the ‘City of Flowers’ has been an integral part of the Guangdong Province’s economic boom since the 1990s. The largest importer and exporter in China with a nominal GDP of 9 trillion yuan (USD1.32 trillion), Guangdong is the top contributor of all provinces to China’s national economy.

World Routes 2018 will support Guangzhou’s economic development by bringing the international aviation industry to the city and highlighting its commercial strength. It is also a great opportunity to showcase airlines the new service facilities in Guangzhou Airport. This will create a blueprint for future cooperation by deepening the industry’s understanding of the transit visa-free policy and the development of the Guangzhou Airport hub.

There are four ‘regional’ route development forums held between February and July in the Americas, Asia, Europe and Africa. The flagship World Routes event takes place in September. www.routesonline.com